You’ve made it past the first date and it was a wonderful time for both parties. Now what?
For anyone serious about getting into a relationship, the next priority is to continue nurturing the engagement with your date.
Make the necessary next steps that build upon the progress you’ve made on the first date.
Below are four ideas on how you can do just that.
- Debrief with a friend or coach
Walk through the best parts of the date with a friend.
Doing so helps you process everything – from the brief but scintillating moments of eye-contact to the joyous gasps brought about by common interests.
Debriefing can be especially beneficial for incessant overthinkers, who may be too hard on themselves even on days when they did great.
Take this time as an opportunity to give yourself a confidence boost.
Highlight the things you did well. If you’re subscribed to a dating platform or matchmaking service, don’t shy away from sharing and celebrating these wins with your dating coach.
Of course, it’s also good to talk a bit about the awkward moments, but don’t dwell on them for too long and always think about ways to improve and move forward.
- Don’t wait too long to get back
It’s a mistake to obsess over when to contact someone after a first date. It’s perfectly fine to reach out after a day or two has passed.
And why not? Both of you had a great time and it’s highly likely your date would want to hear back from you soon.
As long as you’re not reaching out after a month later, you’ll be fine.
However, do think twice about saying “good morning” or “good night” in the days following the date – especially if you plan on sending these consistently, day in and day out.
While some people may find that sweet, such a gesture borders on relationship territory, and to be clear, you’ve only gone on one date with this person.
You want to show you’re interested, but avoid sounding clingy or desperate.
- Pick up on conversations or hints on the first date
Paying attention to the things your date said can be really flattering for them.
Needless to say, it shows that you’re invested in making a relationship happen.
Whether it’s favorite food, a travel bucket list, or a frequented karaoke bar, use these ideas to inform your second or even third date plans.
If you spent most of the night talking about music and art, start looking up upcoming concerts or local art galleries that both of you may find engaging. You get the idea.
Additionally, you can also pass on the intel to a friend or dating coach.
Having a second person whom you can rely on to run through dating ideas and plans can be really helpful.
- Hold a proper text conversation
Nowadays, it’s so easy to send a message to someone.
You’ve got a plethora of options.
Regardless if it’s through text, Facebook messenger, email, or any other digital medium, communicate only when you have something interesting to share.
Similar to #3, you can also craft talking points based on the conversations you had that day.
Pick up where you left off on some interesting topics.
Keep in mind that ranting about work-related matters and other trivial things may reduce your chances of getting that third date.
More importantly, avoid excessively giving out compliments on how fine they looked during the first date.
You may come off as shallow and too focused on physical aspects.
Keep these tips in mind for when you start planning for another successful date. Best of luck and don’t forget to have a great time!